Device for elastically transferring forces



g- 1953 J. J, WARMO-E-S ETAL 2,

DEVICE FOR ELASTICALLY TRANSFERRING FORCES Filed April 24, 1952 k /5 /2 6 9 r- K 4 5' 7 1/ i g I ITEM TUSTIH WAR MOPS AND LEG Y A. H- J. Cl-OSkl/Y INVENTORSI Patented Aug. 4, 153

DEVICE FOR ELASTICAL FOR EIY TRANSFER/RING Jean Justin Warmoes, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and Lon Auguste Adrien Joseph Closkin, Liege,

Belgium Application April 24, 1952, Serial No. 284,101 In Belgium June 16, 1951 14 Claims.

The present invention relates to a device for transferring a force, and more particularly to a device for elastically transferring a force.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an intermediate member in a mechanical system transferring the effort of a force from one part to another.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an elastic force-transmitting device in systems in which at least part of the elements are subject to vehement forces.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an intermediate device for mechanical systems involving forces acting very rapidly.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a device of the type described in which the forces are deadened.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an intermediate part of a mechanical system in which the forces are transmitted with a certain delay.

The present invention is as it were the inverse of the device for elastically transferring forces disclosed and claimed in our copending application Serial No. 282,882, filed April 17, 1952, for Device for Elastically Transferring Forces.

A device according to the present invention comprises in its broadest aspect a cylinder, a piston movably arranged in the cylinder and defining with the same a chamber containing a fluid,

resilient means for transferring at least part of the force to the piston so as to move the same in a direction increasing the volume of the chamber so as to create a partial vacuum in the same having a retarding effect on the motion of the piston with respect to the cylinden'and means for restoring the initial pressure of the flllld 1n the chamber when the piston has moved through a predetermined distance with respect to the cylinder so as to relieve the retarding efiect on the motion of the piston and to continue the motion of the piston with a force larger than the force acting upon the piston during the retarding effect of the partial vacuum.

Preferably the fluid contained in the chamber is air.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the cylinder has a curved .wall portion having a slot substantially parallel to the axis of the cylinder and extending over part of the curved wall portion and which is engaged by a member rigidly connected to the piston, resilient means transferring the force to the member, the slot connecting the chamber with the atmosphere when the piston has moved through the predetermined distance.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a casing having two opposite end Walls provided with apertures, respectively, a cylinder arranged in the casing and having an open end arranged coaxially with and contiguously to the aperture in one of the two end walls, a cylindrical head movably arranged in the casing and projecting to the outside thereof through the aperture in the other of the two end walls, the cylindrical head receiving the force to be transferred, resilient means abutting with the ends thereof against the cylinder and the cylindrical head, respectively, so as to urge the same into an end position in which the cylindrical head abuts against the other of the two end walls.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention a helical spring is attached to the cylindrical head and the member, the helical spring transferring the force from the cylindrical head to the member and returning the member into the initial position thereof when the cylindrical head has returned into the initial position thereof.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, the front part of the device being broken away in order to show the interior thereof;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of part of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2, part of the casing being "broken away.

Referring now to the drawings a casing I having preferably cylindrical shape of any crosssection and preferably circular cross-section comprises two opposite end walls i and I provided with preferably circular apertures, respectively. A cylindrical head 2 is movably arranged in the casing I and projects to the out-- side thereof through the aperture in the end wall I. The cylindrical head 2 abuts against the inner face of the end wall I under the action of resilient means such as a compression spring- 3 abutting against the inner end face of the cylindrical head and the outside of the end face of a cylinder 8 which is rigidly connected to the other 3 end wall I" of the casing I. It should be understood, however, that the resilient means could be so arranged as to abut directly against the end wall I" of the casing l.

A piston B is movably arranged in the cylinder 8. The piston 6 defines with the upper end wall l2 thereof a chamber having a variable volume with the cylinder 8. The curved wall portion 8 of the cylinder 8 is provided with at 1east one slot I extending substantially parallel to the axis of the cylinder and over part of the curved wall portion 9 thereof. The slot it] serves as guiding means for a member or cross-piece '5 .rigid with a piston rod '5 rigidly attached to the piston .8. The slot l0 connects the chamber defined by the cylinder 8 and the piston 6 with the atmosphere when the piston 6 has moved through a predetermined distance with respect to the cylinder 8, thus giving the atmospheric air access to the chamber. A sleeve H sliding along the outside of the curved wall portion 3 of the cylinder 8 aids in guiding the cross-piece 5. The piston rod 1 extends through theaperture of the end wall i of the casing I.

In the rest position the .upper end wall (2 of the piston 6 is maintained as close as desired to the end face of the cylinder 8 by means of a resilient part such as a helical spring 13 attached to the cylindrical head 2 and by means of hooks d to the cross-piece 5.

The operation of this device is as follows:

The force to be transferred acts on the end face ofthe cylindricalhead 2 and drives the same into the casing i whereby the springs ,3 and 13 are compressed. The spring l3 pushes the piston 6 by means of the cross-piece 5 so as to withdraw the upper end wall 52 of the piston 5 from the end face of the cylinder 8. Therefore a partial vacuum is created in the chamber defined by the upper end Wall .12 of the piston 6 and the corresponding end wall of the cylinder 8 which has a retarding effect on the piston 6 and increases with increasin distance of the upper end wall [2 from the corresponding end wall of the cylinderB. However, when the piston arrives with the upper .end wall i2 thereof flush with the upper end of the slot l0, air enters suddenly into the cylinder 3 from the outside so that the motion of the piston 6 is no longer retarded and the spring 13 is relieved from compression and imparts a sudden impulse to the piston 6. Owing to the described motion of the piston 6 and the corresponding motion of the piston rod "i the initial eifort is transferred either directly to the desired spot or to any mechanical or electrical relay. The effort acts with a predetermined deadening and retardation which can be adjusted by suitably choosing the parts of the device such as the springs 3, I3 and the length of the cylinder .8, the slots i0 and the piston 6.

If the force ceases before a communication is established between the chamber defined by the piston 6 and the cylinder 8 and the atmosphere, the spring 3, pushes the head 2 upwards and returns the same to the initial position thereof.

It will be understood that eachof the elements described above, .or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of devices for transferring a force differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a device for elastically transferring a force, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made 4 without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A device for transferring a force, comprising, in combination, a cylinder having a curved wall portion having a slot substantially parallel to the axis of said cylinder and extending over part of said curved wall portion; a piston movably arranged in said cylinder and defining with the same a chamber containing air; a member rigidly connected to said piston and engaging said slot; and resilient means transferring the force to said member so as to move the same and said piston rigidly connected thereto in a direction increasing the volume of said chamber so as tocreate a partial vacuum in the same having a retarding eifect on the motion of said piston with respect to said cylinder, said slot connecting said chamber with the atmosphere when said piston has moved through a predetermined distance with respect to said cylinder so as to relieve the retarding eifect on the motion of said piston and to continue the motion of said piston with a force larger than the force acting upon said piston during the retarding effect of said partial vacuum.

2. A device for transferring a force, comprising. in combination, a cylinder having a curved Wall portion having a slot substantially parallel to the axis of said cylinder and extending over part of said curved Wall portion; .a piston movably arranged in said cylinder and defining with the same a chamber containing air; a member rigidly cennected to said pitson and engaging said slot; and :a resilient means transferring the force to said member so as to move the same and said piston rigidly connected thereto in a direction increasing the volume of said chamber so as to create a partial vacuum in the same having a retarding effect on the motion of said piston with respect to said cylinder, said slot connecting said chamber with the atmosphere when said piston has moved through a predetermined distance with respect to said cylinder so as to relieve the retarding efiect on the motion of said piston and suddenly to accelerate the same by the force transferred resiliently to said piston so as to continue the motion of said piston with a force larger than the force acting upon said piston during the retarding effect of said patrial vacuum.

3. A device for transferring a force, comprising, in combination, a cylinder having a curved wall portion having .a slot substantially parallel to the axis of said cylinder and extending over part of said curved Wall portion; a piston movably arranged in said cylinder and defining with the same a chamber containing air; a cross-piece rigidly connected to said piston and engaging said slot; and resilient means transferring the force to said cross-piece so as to move the same and said piston rigidly connected thereto in a direction increasing the volume of said chamber so as to create a partial vacuum in the same havinga retarding effect on the motion of said piston with respect to said cylinder, said slot connecting said chamber with the atmosphere when said piston has moved through a predetermined distance with respect to said cylinder so as to relieve the retarding effect on the motion of said piston and to continue the motion of said piston with a force larger than the force acting upon said piston during the retarding effect of said partial vacuum.

4. A device for transferring a force, comprising, in combination, a cylinder having a curved wall portion having a slot substantially parallel to the axis of said cylinder and extending over part of said curved wall portion; a piston movably arranged in said cylinder and defining with the same a chamber containing air; a cross-piece rigidly connected to said piston and engagin said slot; and resilient means transferring the force to said cross-piece so as to move the same and said piston rigidly connected thereto in a direction increasing the volume of said chamber so as to create a partial vacuum in the same having a retarding efiect on the motion of said piston with respect to said cylinder, said slot connecting said chamber with the atmosphere when said piston has moved through a predetermined distance with respect to said cylinder so as to relieve the retarding effect on the motion of said piston and suddenly to accelerate the same by the force transferred resiliently to said piston so as to continue the motion of said piston with a force larger than the force acting upon said piston during the retarding effect of said partial vacuum.

5. A device for transferring a force, comprising, in combination, a cylinder having a curved wall portion having a slot substantially parallel to the axis of said cylinder and extending over part of said curved wall portion; a piston movably arranged in said cylinder and defining With the same a chamber containing air; a piston rod rigidly connected to said piston; a member rigidly connected to said piston rod and engaging said slot; and resilient means transferring the force to said member so as to move the same and said piston rigidly connected thereto in a direction increasing the volume of said chamber so as to create a partial vacuum in the same having a retarding effect on the motion of said piston with respect to said cylinder, said slot connecting said chamber with the atmosphere when said piston has moved through a predeterined distance with respect to said cylinder so as to relieve the retarding effect on the motion of said piston and to continue the motion of said piston with a force larger than the force acting upon said piston during the retarding effect of. said partial vacuum.

6. A device for transferring a force, comprising, in combination, a cylinder having a curved wall portion having a slot substantially parallel to the axis of said cylinder and extending over part of said curved wall portion; a piston movably arranged in said cylinder and defining with the same a chamber containing air; a piston rod rigidly connected to said piston; a cross-piece rigidly connected to said piston rod and engaging said slot; and resilient means transferring the force to said cross-piece so as to move the same'and said piston rigidly connected thereto in a direction increasing the volume of said chamber so as to create a partial vacuum in the same having a'retarding effect on the motion of said piston with respect to said cylinder, said slot 6, connecting said chamber with the atmosphere when said piston has moved through a predetermined distance with respect to said cylinder so as to relieve the retarding effect on the motion of said piston and to continue the motion of said piston with a force larger than the force acting upon'said piston during the retarding effect of said partial vacuum.

-7. A device for transferring a force, comprising, in combination, a cylinder having a curved wall portion having a slot substantially parallel to the axis of said cylinder and extending over part of said curved wallportion; a piston movably arranged in said cylinder and defining with the same a chamber containing air; a piston rod rigidly connected to said piston; a cross-piece rigidly connected to said piston rod and engagin said slot; and resilient means transferring the force to said cross-piece so as to move'the same and said piston rigidly connected thereto in a direction increasing the volume of said chamber so as to create a partial vacuum in the same having a retarding effect on the motion of said piston with respect to said cylinder, said slot connecting said chamber with the atmosphere when said piston has moved through a predetermined distance with respect to said cylinder so as to relieve the retarding effect on the motion of said piston and suddenly to accelerate the same by the force transferred resiliently to said piston so as to continue the motion of said piston with a force larger than the force acting upon said piston during the retarding effect of said partial vacuum.

8. A device for transferring a force, comprising, in combination, a casing having two opposite end walls provided with apertures, respectively; a cylinder arranged in said casing and havin an open end arranged coaxially with and contiguously to said aperture in one of said two end walls; a cylindrical head movably arranged in said casing and projecting to the outside thereof through said aperture in the other of said two end walls, said cylindrical head receiving the force to be transferred; resilient means abutting with the ends thereof against said cylinder and said cylindrical head, respectively, so as to urge the same into an end position in which said cylindrical head abuts against said other of said two end walls; a piston movably arranged in said cylinder and defining with the same a chamber containing air; resilient means for transferring at least part of the force from said cylindrical head to said piston so as to move the same in a direction increasing the volume of said chamber so as to create a partial vacuum in the same having a retarding effect on the motion of said piston with respect to said cylinder; and means for restoring the initial pressure of the air in said chamber when said piston has moved through a predetermined distance with respect to said cylinder so as to relieve the retarding effect on the motion of said piston and to continue the motion of said piston with a force larger than the force acting upon said piston during the retarding effect of said partial vacuum.

9. A device for transferring a force, comprising, in combination, a casing having two opposite end walls provided with apertures, respectively; acylinder arranged in said casing and having an open end arranged coaxially with and contiguously to said aperture in one of said two end walls; a vcylindrical head movably arranged in said-casing and projecting to the outside 1 thereofi through said aperture in the other or said two end walls, said cylindrical head. receiv ing the force to.- be transferred; resilient means abutting with the ends thereof against said cylinder and said cylindrical head, respectively, so as to urge the same into an endposition in. which said cylindrical head. abuts against said other of said two end walls, said cylinder having a curved wall portion, having a slotsubstantiallyparallel to the axis of. saidcylinder and extending over part of said. curved.- wallportion; a piston. movably arranged insaidcylinder and defining; with, the same a chamber containing, air; a member rigidly. connected to said: piston. and engaging said slot; and resilient. means transferring the-force from saidcylindrical. head to said. member sov as to move the same. and; said piston rigidly connected thereto. ina direction increasing the. volume 01 said chamber so as to. create a partial vacuum inthe same having aretarding effect on the motionof. saidpiston with; respect to said cylindensaid. slot connecting. said. chamber with, the atmosphere when said. piston has moved through a predetermined distance with respect to said-.cylinder-so-as to-rel-ieve the retarding effect on the motion of. said-piston and. tocontinue the motion of said piston with aiorcelarger than theforce acting upon said piston. during the retarding effectof saidpartial.

vacuum.

10. A device for transferringa force, comprising, in combination, a casing. having two opposite end: walls. provided with apertures, respectively; a cylinder arranged said. casing. and.

having. an open endar-ranged. coaxially with and contiguously. toysaid. aperture in one of. said two end. walls; acylindr ical head movably arranged in. said. casing and projecting. to the outside: thereof. through. said. aperture the other or" said two, endnvalls, said. cylindrical headreceiva;

ing the. force .to .be transferred; resilient means. abutting withtheendsthereoi against saidcyl inder. andsaid. cylindrical head, respectively,.sor as. to, urge the. same into an: end! position in:

which. said-cylindrical head abuts against said: J

other of, said-two end walls, said cylinder having,

a curved; wall portion having a .slot. substantially parallelgtd the. axis of saidcylinderv and extend-r ingover partoi said curved walliportion; apiston. lnovably arranged in said. cylinder anddefining; with the samea. chamber. containing a. cross--- piece rigidly connected to said piston. and-engage ing. said, slot; and resilient meanstransferring; the force from said cylindrical headto Sa'id'CI'DSS.--

piece so as, to movev the same. andtsaidpiston L rigidly connected, thereto. in a direction increase ing, the volume of'saidchamber so as torrente a partial vacuum inthe same having, a-iretardingeifect' on the motionof saidpistonwith nee spect' to said cylinder, said slot connectingsaid chamber with the, atmosphere when. said piston: has moved through, a. predetermineddistance with respect to said cylinder. soiastorelieveithe retarding effect on the motion of. said piston; andto continuethemotion of. said piston with: a force larger than the forceacting. uponsaid. piston during the retarding efiect of said partial; vacuum.

' 11: A device. for, transferring a force, .compris-.- ing in combination; a casingjhaving. two. oppo site end walls. provided with. apertures, respectively; a cylinder arranged. in.said.casing, andhaving an open, endjarranged coaxially, with and contiguous'ly to saidapertureimone of. said. two.

endwa-lls; a" cylindi'ical'head' movably. arranged;

8? insaid-casing and projecting to the outside thereof through said aperture in the other of said two end walls, said cylindrical head. receiving. the force to be transferred; resilient means abutting. with the ends thereof against said cylinder and said cylindrical head, respectively, so as to urge the same into an end position which: said.

cylindrical head abuts against said other of said two end walls, said cylinder having a curved wall. portion having a slot substantially parallel to the axis of said cylinder and extending over part of said curved wall portion; a piston mov-ablyarranged in said cylinder and. defining with the same a chamber containing air; a piston rod-: rigidly connected to said piston; a. member rig.- idly connected to said piston. rod and. engagingsaid slot; and resilient means transferring. the force. from said cylindrical head to said member so as to move the same and. said piston rigidly connected thereto in a direction increasing-v the volume of said chamber so as to create a partialv vacuum in the. same having. a, retarding. efiect on the motion of said piston with respect; to said cylinder, said slot connecting said cham bar. with the atmosphere when said piston has moved through a predetermined distance with respect to said. cylinder so as to relieve the. retarding cheat on the motion of said piston and. to continue. the motion of said piston witha force larger than the force acting upon said piston during the retarding effect of said partial vacuum.

12. A device for transferring a force, comprising, in combination, a casing having two opposite end walls provided with apertures, respectively; a cylinder arranged in said casing and having an open end arranged coaxially with and contiguously to said aperture in one of'said twoend walls; a cylindrical head movably arranged in said casing and'proj ecting to the outside thereof through said aperture in the other of said two end walls, said cylindrical head. receiving the force to be transferred; resilient means abutting with the ends thereof against said cylinder and said cylindrical head, respectively, so as. to.- urge the same into an end positionrinwhich said.

cylindrical head abuts against saidother of said two end walls, said cylinder having. a curved. wall portion having a slot substantially parallel to the axis of said cylinder and extending over. part of said curved wall portion;. a. piston movably arranged in said cylinder and definingwith the same a chamber containing air; amember. rigidly connected to said piston and engagingsaid slot; and-a helical spring attached. to said cylindrical head andsaidmember, said-helica-lspring transferring the force from said cylindrical head to said member so asto move the same-andsaid piston. rigidly connected thereto in a directionin'creasing the volume of said-chamber so as to create a partial vacuum in the same having a retarding effect on the motionof saidpiston with respect to said cylinder, saidhelicalspring ro turning said member into the initial positionthereof' when said cylindrical. head returns into the initialv positionthereof, saidslot connecting said chamber. with thewatmosphere when. said piston has. moved. through a predetermined dis tance with respect. to said cylinder soas tome-'- lieve the retarding efiect on themotion of said piston and to continue the. motion of said pis ton with a forcelarger than the forceacting uponsaid piston during the retarding effect of said partial vacuum.

13'. A device for. transferringaforce, compris ing, combination,..a casinghaving two oppo provided with apertures, respectively; a cylinder arranged in said casing and having an open end arranged coaxially with and contiguously to said aperture in one of said two end walls; a cylindrical head movably arranged in said casing and projecting to the outside thereof through said aperture in the other of said tow end walls, said cylindrical head receiving the force to be transferred; resilient means abutting with the ends thereof against said cylinder and said cylindrical head, respectively, so as to urge the same into an end position in which said cylindrical head abuts against said other of said two end walls, said cylinder having a curved wall portion having a slot substantially parallel to the axis of said cylinder and extending over part of said curved wall portion; a piston movably arranged in said cylinder and defining with the same a chamber containing air; a cross-piece rigidly connected to said piston and engaging said slot; and a helical spring attached to said cylindrical head and said cross-piece, said helical spring transferring the force from said cylindrical head to said cross-piece so as to move the same and said piston rigidly connected thereto in a direction increasing the volume of said chamber so as to create a partial vacuum in the same having a retarding effect on the motion of said piston with respect to said cylinder, said helical spring returning said cross-piece into the initial position thereof when said cylindrical head returns into the initial position thereof, said slot connecting said chamber with the atmosphere when said piston has moved through a predetermined distance with respect to said cylinder so as to relieve the retarding efiect on the motion of said piston and to continue the motion of said piston with a force larger than the force acting upon said piston during the retarding effect of said partial vacuum.

14. A device for transferring a force, comprising, in combination, a casing having two opposite end walls provided with apertures, respectively; a cylinder arranged in said casing and having an open end arranged coaxially with and contiguously to said aperture in one of said two end walls; a cylindrical head movably arranged in said casing and projecting to the outside thereof through said aperture in the other of said two site end walls 10 end walls, said cylindrical head receiving the force to be transferred; resilient means abutting with the ends thereof against said cylinder and said cylinderical head, respectively, so as to urge the same into an end position in which said cylindrical. head abuts against said other of said two end walls, said cylinder having a curved wall portion having a slot substantially parallel to the axis of said cylinder and extending over part of said curved wall portion; a piston movably arranged in said cylinder and defining with the same a chamber containing air; a piston rod rigidly connected to said piston; a cross-piece rigidly connected to said piston rod and engaging said slot; and a helical spring attached to said cylindrical head and said cross-piece, said helical spring transferring the force from said cylindrical head to said cross-piece so as to move the same and said piston rigidly connected thereto in a direction increasing the volume of said chamber so as to create a partial vacuum in the same having a retarding effect on the motion of said piston with respect to said cylinder, said helical spring returning said cross-piece into the initial postion thereof when said cylindrical head returns into the initial position thereof, said slot connecting said chamber with the atmosphere when said piston has moved through a predetermineddistance with respect to said cylinder so as to relieve the retarding effect on the motion of said piston and to continue the motion of said piston with a force larger than the force acting upon said piston during the retarding effect of said partial vacuum.

JlijAN JUSTIN WARMOES. LEON AUGUSTE ADRIEN JOSEPH CLOSKIN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 772,067 Sundh Oct. 11, 1904 1,155,981 Wiseley Oct. 5, 1915 1,200,199 Johnson Oct. 3, 1916 2,449,239 Magnus Sept. 14, 1948 2,530,938 Breuning Nov. 21, 1950 2,576,771 Bentley Nov. 27, 1951 

